Silverstone MS04 External 3.5" HDD Enclosure

Introduction:

    Around this time a year ago I reviewed the MS02, which was a 2.5" external HDD enclosure. Now, 1 year later, I'm getting the chance to review the MS04, which is an external 3.5" HDD enclosure with USB and Firewire connections. The MS04 enclosure is constructed from aluminum, and incorporates an internal fan along with a Firewire pass-thru so mutable devices can be daisy chained together. Two color options are given - either silver or black - and the one up for review will be the black model.

About the Company:

    Founded in the summer of 2003, Silverstone Technology is now a proven leader in the field of aluminum enclosure design and manufacturing. Our expertise in creating functional works of art from ordinary electronics and computer components is widely recognized. Numerous designs and ideas for improving computer enclosures were first created by our talented team of engineers, who are regarded by many as leaders in their respective fields. Today, Silverstone Technology continues to garner attention and awards that reflect our original vision of creating the most advanced and beautiful products available on the market.

Specifications:

A Closer Look:

Retail Front

Retail Back

Side Panel

Open Box

    SilverStone has some of the nicest looking packages among all the retailers I have dealt with over the years. The MS04 comes boxed up in a suitcase-style box with the carrying handle at the top. The front of the box is loaded with information on the enclosure and a picture of each color of enclosure, while the back gives an introduction to the MS04 and the specs cover the side panel.

Front

Back

Air Intake Side

Connection Ports

    The MS04 is constructed from aluminum inside and out. The shape of the enclosure is a thin oval. On either side of the exterior are oval shaped vent holes for the fan to move the air. The front side of the MS04 has the SilverStone name and logo in the middle. On the one side panel is a mesh screen which has a micro muffin fan on the inside used to pull in fresh air. On either side of the mesh panel are two screws; these screws secure the internal tray for the hard drive. On the other end is the side panel with all the connection ports. A single USB port and two Firewire ports are located here: the FireWire ports can be used to link multiple units together or another FireWire device.

Power Supply

Firewire Cable

USB Cable

MS04 Stand

    The panel with the connection ports also has the power switch, as well as a power connector for the included power supply. The included cables consist of one USB and Firewire cable, along with the power supply and a stand for the MS04.

Installation:

Internal Tray	Micro Fan	HDD Connected	1 of 6 Screw Holes
Screwed	Sliding Home	Ready to Work	Power & Data LEDs

    As I mentioned above, to get inside the MS04, remove two screws on the side panel with the mesh and slide the tray out. Next, connect the data and power cable to an IDE hard drive and secure using the included screws. Now it's just a matter sliding the tray back into the housing and securing with the screws.

    Next, hook up the power supply and use either the USB or Firewire cable to begin the data flow to and from the MS04. On the side panel with the mesh, two LED's are present. The blue LED is for the power, and the red LED flashes when the data is flowing.

Conclusion:

    As far as 3.5" enclosures go, the MS04 is high on the list with its all-aluminum construction. The MS04 is a very solid unit that will stand up to the abuse that all things portable go through. The oval construction is a nice touch as well. I was concerned about one thing, though: that the micro fan might be loud, because they usually are. Well, this particular micro fan was extremely quiet - the spinning of the hard drive drowned out any noise the fan was making.

    If you are in the market for a tough and durable 3.5" hard drive enclosure, then the MS04 from SilverStone may be the one for you. Although I didn't use the dual Firewire ports, the idea of any type of hub on a device such as this is a good option. I would like to thank SilverStone for sending this item out to VH for review.

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